The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1887-05-26

E on the side of the mountain, where there
was q lovely view Of lake and fine
waterfall, she gladly assented, and did all
E sshs could to make up q pleasant party.
was to 60, and Mr.. and Miss Neville,
Miss Katie's cousins, too, and two Ger
man students. Atguide and o porter were
engaged to show the way and to help any
one who wanted help, and to carry the
baskets It was q lovely, bright, warm
morling, perfectly still, not breath OF
air stirring, only the hum Of insects or the
sound Of a COW bell could be heard; and,
as Nrc proceeded, the roar Of a cataract
from; the melting snow field above US. 80.
Is TIE guide and porter walked in front
3 by: themselves chatting. s Another man
some one in skins and bare knees, with
high feathery hat-carae behind by him
sell, as If watching us; but no one took
amy notice OF him. My only fear was
about Gideon Grasper, and for his inter-
ference, and Of something the landlord
Shad said about the snow falling.
We reached the hut and had lunch.
After lunch Miss Katie and Mr.. Neville
{ rambled off and so did I. Although we
I took opposite directions, they soon came
{ round near me; and as sat in 3 dreamy,
wondering way, thinking Of home, could
occasionally hear their voices.
Mr.. Neville was pleading hard, and Miss
Katie was yielding. he seemed quite
|. satisfied, for I heard him say, Then,
dearest, you are mine?'' in a loud voice,
when another voice In threatening tones
. alarmed me. I knew too well who it was
Gideon Grasper!
jumped up. There was the man in
|. the Tyrolese hat grasping his gun. That
man, then, was Gideon.
81 81 He was speaking sternly, firmly, but
!. without apparent anger. Every now and
then he glanced up tho. mountain in q half
alarmed manner, as If some presentiment
weighed upon him. But I soon approached,
nd understood his words. 49,.
Marry her at your peril, thenn he
s shouted; handling his gun.
Is Mr.. Neville thought he was going to be
!. shot, and 1eaped upon Grasper. There
{ was o shouting and struggle Miss
Katie screamed. The guide and porter
f and the Germans were all shouting at
/ something or somebody In warning tones.
& Suddenly the gun went off-botn barrels
al; oncewith q tremendous roar. The
echoes came back over and over again in
the still mir; the econcussion seemed
tremendous.
Suddenly hiss was heard-a roar; q
great lump Of snow had tumbled from the
5overhanging mass, and had fallen in the
belt OF fir trees some yards away, and
higher. up than we were.
tsCome back! come back!n shouted the
Germans In English. Miss Katie's cousins
screamed out s!tAvalancher' But Mr..
Neville still gripped Grasper.
50: Suddenly O. sound like q pistol shot was
: heard. Then we all looked up. The whole
mountain; was moving, sliding down.
3 white slope of thick snow, with a
noise OF ten Thousand boiling kettles
Kissing like millions Of snakes! a crack
ling OF timber high up the noun
tainl We turned@ and ran for the hut
under the rock, in which the others had
taken shelter, as we fancied, because they
had disappeared. But when we reached
{ the hut, in about ten seconds, II was
empty. They had escaped down the hill
with the guides.
We had no time to think. A tremendous
roar seemed to crush the cir down on us;
then crunching crash like cart wheels in
snow ruts thousand times magnided.
{ The light died ont. We were buried alive
in the avalanche.
3.eAliss Katiep' screamed-s'Mfr. Ne
sYiIlel'.
Yes; here we are, y they replied.
stGideon Grasper---is he here toof l
said.
!. There was no answer. Then he had
been caught in the avalanche and suffo-
: Gated! A terrible doom
: We were silent for awhile. cannot
tell. you what the others thought. know
I prayed very earnestly. Occasionally /
could hear Mr.. Neville comforting Miss
Katie; and after awhile he spoke to me.
ssMrs.. Farmer, will you come here? /
think Miss Canton has tainted; she Is
heavy and cold" he whispered.
+ I stepped toward his voice, which
sounded so curious In tho darkness and
deathly silence, and took Miss Katie in
my arms. She Lay passive. I placed her
on the floor, and loosened her dress, so as
to revive her. We felt the awful silence.
Then I perceived touch on my face. It
was cold; and Mr.. Neville said:
"Giye her some of this.
took the flask and poured q few drops
down Miss Katie's throat-and, may
say, drank little myself. Mr.. Neville
said he didn't want any; and he kept feel
Ing his way about the little hut, trying 70
lind the door or window.
s'If we only had light" cried, 1--WE
might save MISS Katie. am afraid she
is dying. II we could only see''-
:.What fool anti exclaimed Mr..
Neville. Then after pause heard him
striking q match. In another second the
hut was lighted bya wax vesta.
~ have six or seven more" he said.
Then he stopped, and by the light Of the
tiny taper we sow thnt Miss Katie was
pale as DEATH her eyes and mouth tightly
closed, her hands cienched and rigid.
Force some cordial down her throat, )"
he said. II VIII chafe her feet;" and he
knelt down.
.'Hold another match, sir" said.
isLook; what's that yonder"'
He jumped up. can old lantern and q
bit of candle In 1t. Now We are all
right"
He had apparently forgotten the ter
rible situation 'weiwere in. The candle
was lighted, and while it burned we
{ turned all our attention to Miss Katie.
After awhile she again breathed regu-
hrly, and then The candle went out.
|, "Hurrahn' cried Mr.. Neville, who was
nearly crying, too. sob, my darling,
you are better new? IIstie, dearest, spenk
to me!''
She only closea. her eyes wearily.
Keep her awake, for heavens sake
{ keep her awake! She will die If she
+ sleepsI'' he screamed; "I would give my
life for hers.
He rushed toward the doorway, and be-